As soon as Evelyn spoke, Agnes’s gaze flickered, but she quickly regained her composure. After eleven years of being married to Victor, she had perfected the art of staying calm even when the sky was falling.

“Even the meekest person can make a mistake in a moment of passion. If it weren't for my vanity and my constant need to compete with others, your father wouldn't have taken that path. Blame me; it's all my fault—”

“Don’t you even question whether there’s more to my dad’s death?” Evelyn asked tearfully, her voice rising in accusation. “Back then, my dad was just one of Victor’s subordinates. How could he possibly have had access to five million?”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Agnes immediately suppressed her emotions and resumed her high-and-mighty persona as Mrs. Johnson. “Come in.”

Adrian stepped into the room.

Evelyn turned to him, their eyes locking in an intense moment.

With his striking features and nearly six-foot stature, Adrian exuded a calm confidence that set him apart from many others in Lycheeville's civil service. He was Victor’s only son, six years older than Evelyn, and had been groomed for a political career since childhood. Now, before hitting thirty, he served as the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Natural Resources in Lycheeville.

His fiancée was Charlotte, the daughter of Elijah Quill, the Chief Executive of the Lycheeville Local Government Association—a match carefully chosen by Victor.

Today, he wore a light-colored casual outfit and carried a gray paper bag, his gaze shifting from Evelyn to Agnes.

“Auntie Agnes, Dad is away in the provincial capital for a meeting and won’t be able to see you for a couple of days. How are you settling in here? If there’s anything wrong, you must tell me. If the nurse, the housekeeper, or anyone isn’t doing well, I’ll replace them immediately.”

“I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Adrian. The nurse and housekeeper are both great. If I had to nitpick, I wouldn’t know what to say. You should focus on your career. Don’t worry about me; if anything comes up, I’ll call you first,” Agnes replied smoothly.

To Evelyn, their interaction felt completely insincere.

She realized that after three years apart, the genuine, open Adrian she once knew was gone for good.

Adrian handed the paper bag to Evelyn, his eyes filled with a restrained love. “Eve, these are your favorite rose pastries.”

“I don’t like them anymore,” Evelyn replied effortlessly.

Adrian frowned slightly at her dismissive tone. “You could’ve at least called me before coming back to Lycheeville. Even if I couldn't make it, I would’ve sent someone to pick you up.”

“I don’t like to inconvenience others,” she quickly established her boundaries.

“I’m your brother; how could I be an outsider?” Adrian chuckled to mask his embarrassment. “Eve, it feels like you’ve really become a stranger to me.”

“I’m Joy; you’re Johnson. My dad was a corrupt criminal who committed suicide out of guilt, while your dad is the esteemed Mayor Johnson—”

“Eve!” Agnes couldn’t take it any longer and interrupted loudly.

If this continued, the observant Adrian would surely catch on to something.

Though she wanted her daughter to stay just a few more minutes, even if it was in silence, the sight of her was enough to make Agnes happy.

But in that moment, she could only adopt the harsh demeanor she despised. “Evelyn, did you come to Lycheeville just to provoke me? You won’t be satisfied until you drive me to my grave.”

Evelyn hadn’t expected that after three years apart, Agnes would still loathe her and favor Adrian.

After a brief silence, Evelyn turned and ran out of the hospital room without looking back.

Adrian quickly caught up and blocked her at the elevator.

“Could you please move aside, Mr. Johnson?” she said, her eyes cast down, avoiding his gaze.

That title made Adrian uncomfortable. He forced himself to be patient. “It’s been three years since you were home. You should go back and take a look. The cactus you bought has already been repotted twice; it even bloomed last summer. Pink flowers—really beautiful.”

“Just throw it away,” she replied flatly, pressing the elevator button.

“Eve.”

Adrian’s voice was cut off as the elevator doors slid shut.

Once outside the hospital, snow began to fall heavily, covering the ground in a thick blanket. The sky had been overcast when she arrived, but in just over half an hour, all of Lycheeville had turned white.

After waiting nearly twenty minutes on the roadside, she finally caught a ride to the airport. The roads were slick and icy, turning a half-hour drive into an hour-long ordeal.

She barely missed the last flight to Riverton that afternoon, and the earliest she could get back now was the 11:50 PM flight.

After booking her ticket, she found a café and ordered a sugar-free cappuccino. Through the glass window, she watched the snow fall more heavily, a sea of white stretching as far as she could see.

Just then, her phone buzzed with Jason's call. Taking a deep breath, she realized she hadn’t updated him yet!

“Where are you?” Jason's voice remained calm.

Evelyn inhaled deeply. “My mom was in a car accident this morning, so I came to Lycheeville. I’ve booked the 11:50 PM flight to Riverton and am currently waiting at the airport.”

At that moment, Jason had just returned to 9Bliss Garden, standing in the vast, lifeless house and feeling inexplicably irritated. Hearing that Evelyn was in Lycheeville ignited a flare of anger within him.

“So, it’s not that you didn’t want to come back to Lycheeville; you just didn’t want to come back with me.”

Evelyn felt she had made her position clear, yet he was twisting her words again. Continuing this conversation would only lead to more insults and humiliation, so she hung up.

Jason listened to the busy signal, pulled out a cigarette, and finished it before dialing Tyler’s number.

“Book me a ticket for the 8:30 flight to Lycheeville. Come to 9Bliss Garden and take me to the airport.”

Tyler agreed quickly, calling back in under five minutes. “Sir, there's been a heavy snowstorm in Lycheeville, and all flights have been canceled.”

“Canceled until when?” Jason's impatience grew.

“The airline has announced cancellations for the next twelve hours, but the specific timing depends on the weather forecast.”

Jason hung up, disappointed.

Hearing the news about the flight cancellations sent a wave of panic through Evelyn.

Just when she feared the worst!

Every minute spent in Lycheeville would only deepen Jason’s suspicions.

Thinking quickly, she decided to be proactive and tell Jason what was happening.

After trying to call him twice without an answer, she resorted to sending a voice message on WhatsApp: “Jason, the snow in Lycheeville is getting heavier, and flights have been canceled. I can’t get back for now.”

Still, there was no response from Jason.

She had said what needed to be said and done what needed to be done. Now, she began to ponder how to endure this long, cold night.

Before coming to Lycheeville, she had packed only two sets of underwear and had brought along a gray cashmere coat—no winter jacket or anything warmer.

Her phone showed that all the hotel rooms at the airport had been snatched up ten minutes ago.

Not even double the rate could get her a room!